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Newcastle boss Keegan: Wise will help us land top kids

Newcastle United boss Kevin Keegan is adamant he is happy with the arrival of football staff Dennis Wise, Tony Jimenez and Jeff Vetere.

He told BBC Radio Newcastle: "I knew they were going to get a director of football and we desperately need that. Chris Mort is a great chairman, but he's a lawyer by trade. Mike Ashley [the owner] is the main man and he wanted some people on the board he could relate to.

"It was in place before I came. Harry Redknapp would have taken the same deal. Of the three names mentioned to me, I'm pleased Dennis the one they plumped for. I know him, I picked him for England and I think he was going to finish with Leeds anyway. I'm meeting him again [on Friday]. Fans shouldn't see it as a negative. It's a plus for the club because he's going to be putting in parts to the club that have been overlooked.

"We've already got one guy from Italy and there are two more from other parts of the world that we can look at. Whilst local kids coming through are important, if they're not here at the present moment, the club is right to look further afield. Manchester City are competing for them and paying money in compensation and Liverpool are doing it. If you can't beat them, you have to join them."

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